Nebraska offers two of 2018’s top dual threat QBs

So with Nebraska off last weekend, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf kept the tradition alive and Nebraska offered a pair of quarterbacks the coach particularly likes.

The first is 2018 4-star QB Jalen Mayden from Sachse (Texas) High. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder is the No. 6 dual-threat QB and No. 176 overall prospect in his class. He’s a tall lefty who really knows how to place a pass and runs the zone-read quite well.

The other 2018 QB is 4-star Colson Yankoff, currently an Oregon commit. Yankoff is 2018’s No. 7 dual-threat QB and No. 2 recruit out of the state of Idaho. Yankoff is 6-3, 195 pounds and runs a 4.7 40.

Yankoff is an extremely talented runner with a second gear in the open field.

Yankoff committed to Oregon this June. He also has offers from programs including Texas Tech, Stanford, Utah, Washington State and Washington.

Something worth noting about these two offers: they seem a little out of the ordinary of Nebraska quarterbacks.

With QBs Tommy Armstrong and Ryker Fyfe both seniors, here what Nebraska’s QB depth chart is set to look like next season:

Redshirt junior Tanner Lee

Sophomore Patrick O’Brien

True freshman Tristan Gebbia

All three of those quarterbacks are pocket passers, not necessarily threats to run. So why would Langsdorf go after two of the top 2018 dual-threat QBs?

Quick theory: The Huskers coaching staff really likes what it has with Armstrong’s running ability. With Lee, O’Brien and Gebbia all pocket passers, maybe the coaches want to throw in some diversity at QB and have an option of a runner at QB since they have seen how well it works with Armstrong.

JM: We talk every day. We have a couple group chats and talk about each other’s seasons and we talk quite a bit.

MS: Who are you closest to?

JM: Probably Tristan (Gebbia) and Keyshawn (Johnson Jr.)

MS: How often do you hear from (Nebraska wide receivers coach) Keith Williams and Nebraska?

JM: I talk to coach Williams every day. We talk on the phone like every other day and we text every day. That’s something we do quite often. That’s someone I’m really, really close to.

MS: About just football or life?

JM: Just life in general. I just come to him and ask him — I see him as an uncle in my eyes and sometimes it’s football but sometimes it’s just life stuff.

MS: Do you still get calls from other teams?

JM: Yeah a couple schools have tried but I’ve tried to explain to them I appreciate it and all that but I’m solid and I don’t like switching it up on my family.

MS: Do you know who your roommate is going to be when you get here?

JM: I’m not sure. It’s a tossup between Keyshawn or Tristan or another guy I can’t say yet. I don’t wanna talk too much I might give it away but you might say that.

* * * * *

OK, so allow me to offer up a conspiracy theory on this one: There might be a big wide receiver commit upcoming.

Usually offensive freshmen room with other offensive freshmen, and it would make sense that receivers would room together. So it wouldn’t be shocking to see that a big wide receiver commit, including 5-star Joseph Lewis, 3-star Jamire Calvin, or possibly 5-star WR/CB Darnay Holmes, is seriously thinking about committing to Nebraska.

It should be noted that all three of those players are from California — and Holmes is teammates with Johnson at Calabasas.

Nebraska giving No. 1 overall recruit ‘something to think about’

Foster Sarell, an offensive tackle from Graham Kapowsin (Wash.) High and the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation, told 247sports on Tuesday that thanks to Nebraska’s top-10 ranking and undefeated record, he is giving more consideration to committing to Nebraska.

“I love Nebraska,” said Sarell, who visited Lincoln in September. “I love coach (Mike) Cavanaugh, coach (Mike) Riley, and I went on my visit and met good O-line dudes. I loved it. I absolutely love Coach Cavanaugh and everything he is and how he represents himself and he’s an awesome dude.

“Nebraska is looking like they’re on the rise a little bit and they’re giving me things to think about.”

So it sounds like Sarell, who is also considering Alabama, Notre Dame, Washington and Stanford, is really starting to re-think Nebraska.

That’s good news for the Huskers, since Nebraska definitely needs another offensive lineman in this class.

Riley on the early signing period

In case you missed it, Riley gave his two cents on the early signing period. Here are his full quotes:

“Well I think that it is a move to kind of match the rules with what’s going on in reality. The recruiting process has accelerated so much in the last decade. We look back, we have 12 guys committed and the early signing day if it’s like the first of July, and I think that would be amped up a few. I think it would lessen the number of visits on the season and I think it would be kind of nice to have that definition both for the high school player and the school. So I think there’s some positives to that.

“This early signing date through the years has become inevitable in some fashion. I think in general if I had to vote I don’t think I’d change but I think it’s going to happen.”